How many of you trust technology enough to cross a 3D printed bridge? It’s a question we, as a society, may soon enough be faced with if 3D printing technology company MX3D’s vision for an entirely 3D printed footbridge is a success.
The company that is known for its extensive research into groundbreaking robotic 3D printing technology is pursuing the prestige and ingenuity of being the first company to 3D print a sustainably functional, 24-foot long bridge. If their ambitions are a success, the world of construction could be in for a whole new generation of 3D printing.
MX3D’s 3D printing robots are a bit of a revolutionary concept in and of themselves given the fact that they don’t require human operation or any other temporary supports to work. They’re are totally autonomous. In fact, MX3D can essentially “draw” steel structures in 3D in what is absolutely midair due to the distinct absence of the printer bed that is commonly seen with other 3D printing robots.
The bridge will be designed by Joris Laarman and is being planned for an unknown location in Amsterdam over a canal of water, which asks a lot of pedestrians to put a lot of trust into the strength and fabrication of the unique 3D printing process. But, according to Tim Geurtejen, another member of the MX3D team, it should be easy for most people to build that trust.
MX3D prints with 6-axis industrial robots, meaning that the team is not architecturally limited in the same way traditional 3D printing machines are. This multi-axis technique is actually what makes it possible for MX3D’s robots to print in geometric patterns, in mid-air, fortifying the strength and durability of the steel.
And because of the unique way in which MX3D’s robots can print, the robot can and will cross the bridge as it creates the bridge, a robotic and technological accomplishment that has never been done before in 3D printing.
Although MX3D experienced the expected hiccups along the way to a total technology breakthrough, like exploding welding machines, stubborn nozzles, and a disoriented robot, the final product is what’s promising the reality of the fully functional 3D printed bridge. And thanks to a new Autodesk software the team is using, the 3D printing robots will have the abilities to understand and visualize the design of the bridge before they print it, making it smarter and more efficient.
An official completion date is still unknown, as several team members chalk it up to location, materials, and environmental factors that could either speed up or slow down the process. Being able to 3D print on the spot the way that MX3D envisions would drastically reduce fabrication time and almost eliminate manual labor entirely. And while we have yet to see a completed product, the first drafts of MX3D’s 3D printing technology is certainly something to look forward to.
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